Downing Street Says » Iraq Inquiry

» Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Iraq Inquiry

Asked if the Prime Minister had been signalling at PMQs today that his view was that Tony Blair should lift the ban on certain documents being published, the PMS said that the Prime Minister had been making the point that Tony Blair was in front of the Iraq Inquiry on Friday and he could, if he wished, explain the nature of his correspondence with President Bush. The decision on whether or not to release the documents was for the Cabinet Office, but Mr Blair was aware of what was in those documents.

Asked if Tony Blair could authorise the decision to release the documents, the PMS said that it was a decision for the Cabinet Secretary. When the Cabinet Secretary made these decisions he consulted the Ministers, or previous Ministers concerned, which was one of the issues he considered when coming to a decision.

Asked if the Prime Minister was encouraging Mr Blair to reveal the detail of the documents, the PMS said that the Prime Minister had always said that the inquiry should be a transparent process. The Prime Minister had been making the point at PMQs that Mr Blair was in the position of knowing what was in the correspondence and therefore he would be able to say more about it if he wished. The Prime Minister was not in that position as he did not have access to the documents.

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